Hydrangea plant named ‘Hpopr013’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea paniculata  named ‘Hpopr013’, that is characterized by its conical shaped inflorescences with pointed apices, its gray-purple stems, its sterile flowers that open yellow-green and fade to pink, and its upright plant habit.

Genus/species: Hydrangea paniculata.

Varietal denomination: ‘Hpopr013’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Hpopr013’. ‘Hpopr013’ represents a new lacecap type Hydrangea, a deciduous shrub grown for landscape use and for use as a potted plant.

The new cultivar of Hydrangea, ‘Hpopr013, was discovered by the Inventor as a chance seedling in a trial garden in Rijkevorsel, Belgium in June 2010. The exact parentage is unknown, however ‘Dharuma’ (not patented) and ‘Pink Diamond’ (not patented) are thought to be probable parents based on the characteristics of the new cultivar and their proximity to the new cultivar.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by softwood cuttings in June of 2010 in Rijkevorsel, Belgium. Asexual propagation by softwood cuttings and tissue culture has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish in ‘Hpopr013’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea.

-   -   1. ‘Hpopr013’ exhibits conical shaped inflorescences with         pointed apices.     -   2. ‘Hpopr013’ exhibits gray-purple stems.     -   3. ‘Hpopr013’ exhibits sterile flowers that open yellow-green         and fade to pink.     -   4. ‘Hpopr013’ exhibits an upright plant habit.         ‘Dharuma’, a probable parent of ‘Hpopr013’, differs from         ‘Hpopr013’ in having cylindrical inflorescences with an obtuse         top and in having a less upright growing habit. ‘Pink Diamond, a         probable parent of ‘Hpopr013’, differs from ‘Hpopr013’ in having         broader and less pointed inflorescences and white sterile         flowers that fade to soft pink. ‘Hpopr013’ can be most closely         be compared to Hydrangea paniculata cultivars ‘Limelight’ (U.S.         Plant Pat. No. 12,874) and ‘DVPpinky’ (U.S. Plant Patent No.         16,166). ‘Limelight’ is similar to ‘Hpopr013’ in having         yellow-green mature sterile flowers. ‘Limelight’ differs from         ‘Hpopr013’ in having broader inflorescences with obtuse apices,         in having sterile flowers that fade to a lighter pink color, and         in having fewer fertile flowers. ‘DVPpinky’ is similar to         ‘Hpopr013’ in having conical shaped inflorescences. ‘DVPpinky’         differs from ‘Hpopr013’ in having sterile flowers that fade to a         dark pinkish red to purple-red color and in having fewer fertile         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrates the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of a four year-old plant of the ‘Hpopr013’, as grown outdoors in a field in Stroe, The Netherlands. The plant was placed in a container for photographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘Hpopr013’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a maturing inflorescence of ‘Hpopr013’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a mature inflorescence of ‘Hpopr013’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘Hpopr013’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed on 4 year-old plants as grown outdoors in Stroe, the Netherlands. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Approximately 8 weeks from June to August             in Stroe, The Netherlands.         -   Plant habit.—Broad upright.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches 2.5 m in height and spread.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—Similar susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests as other Hydrangea varieties.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine roots.         -   Propagation.—Softwood cuttings (preferred) or tissue             culture.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem color.—New wood; 148C to 148D, sunny side 184C, mature             wood; 165A to 200C, lenticels; 165B.         -   Stem size.—Average of 42.6 cm in length and 5 mm in             diameter.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.         -   Stem aspect.—Average angle 45° (soil level=0°).         -   Internode length.—Average of 4.5 cm.         -   Branching.—Basal branches with two branches produced per             stem if pinched. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 11.6 cm in length and 6.1 cm in width.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded to truncate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute to short apiculate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color upper surface; 152C with 187D             towards the base, color lower surface; 182B to 182C with             182A towards the base.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrated.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces dull and slightly rugose, upper             surface sparsely strigose, lower surface slightly strigose             on main vein and secondary veins, strigose hairs are an             average length of 0.5 mm and NN155C to NN155D in color.         -   Leaf color.—Newly formed leaves upper surface; 143A to 143B,             newly formed leaves lower surface; 144A, mature leaves upper             surface; N137B, mature leaves lower surface; 146C to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Average of 2.4 cm in length and 3 mm in diameter,             upper surface; 187A to 187B in color, dull and moderately             pubescent with hairs an average length of 0.5 mm and 156D in             color, lower surface; 182A in color, dull and sparsely             pubescent with hairs and average length of 0.3 mm and 156D             in color. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal panicle, lacecap in form             comprised of a center region of fertile flowers surrounded             by an outer ring of single sterile flowers.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Persistent with color lasting             from summer to early autumn.         -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral or sublateral stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 18.2 cm in depth and 13.8 cm             in diameter.         -   Flower number.—Average of 200 sterile flowers and 375             fertile flowers per panicle.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower aspect.—Sterile flowers; outward, more drooping when             fading, fertile flowers; upright to outward.         -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 3.2 cm in             diameter and 9 mm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 6             mm in diameter and 5 mm in depth.         -   Flower type.—Rotate.         -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; average of 6 mm in length and             5 mm in diameter, obovate in shape, 150D tinged with 58A in             color, fertile flowers; average of 3 mm in length and 2.5 mm             in width, broad obovate in shape, 157B tinged at the top             with 68B in color.         -   Peduncles.—Moderately strong, main peduncle (rachis) an             average of 18 cm in length and 4 mm in width, 165A to 200C             in color, surface glabrous, secondary peduncle an average of             5 cm in length and 1.5 mm in width and 157B in color,             surface pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; held at an 80° angle from             vertical, an average of 2 cm in length and 1 mm in width,             moderate strength, 157B in color, dull, moderately pubescent             surface covered with adpressed hairs 0.5 mm in length and             NN155D in color, fertile flowers; held at all angles, an             average of 2 mm in length and 0.5 mm in diameter, moderate             strength, dull, glabrous surface, 145B to 145C in color.         -   Petals.—Fertile flowers; average of 5, rotate in             arrangement, ovate in shape, entire margin, acute apex,             cuneate base, average of 3 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width,             upper surface glabrous and moderately glossy, lower surface             glabrous and slightly glossy, color; upper surface when             opening NN155D, lower surface when opening NN155D suffused             with 68B, upper surface when fully opened NN155B, lower             surface when fully opened NN155D suffused with 68C, color is             not fading, self-cleaning, sterile flowers; average of 4,             rotate in arrangement, ovate and concave in shape, an             average of 3 cm in length and 1.5 cm width, broadly acute             apex, cuneate base, entire margins, glossy and glabrous on             upper and lower surface, color upper and lower surface when             opening; NN155D, color when mature, upper and lower surface;             NN155A, non-fading and non-persistent.         -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; average of 4, rotate in             arrangement, obovate to ovate in shape, an average of 1.9 cm             in length and 1.4 cm width, retuse to rounded apex, cuneate             base, entire margins, dull and glabrous on upper and lower             surface, color upper and lower surface when opening; 155A,             color when mature, upper and lower surface; 145C, color             fades to a blend of 58A and 185B on both upper and lower             surfaces, fertile flowers; average of 5, short triangular in             shape, entire margin, broad acute apex, broad cuneate base,             average of 1 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, smooth and             slightly glossy on both surfaces, color of upper and lower             surface when opening and when fully open 157A, color not             fading. -   Reproductive organs: (Present on fertile flowers and occasionally on     sterile flowers).     -   -   Stamens.—Sterile flowers; average of 8, anther is double             reniform in shape, 0.4 mm in length and 156D in color,             filament is 2 mm in length and NN155D in color, pollen is             low in quantity and 156C in color, fertile flowers; average             of 10, anther is double reniform in shape, 0.4 m in length             and 156D in color, filament is 3 mm in length and NN155D in             color, pollen is low in quantity and 156C in color.         -   Pistils.—Sterile flowers; average of 2, average of 1 mm in             length, stigma is flattened on top of style and 156D in             color, style is an average of 0.5 mm in length and 157A in             color, ovary is 145D in color, fertile flowers; average of             2, an average of 1 mm in length, stigma is flattened on top             of style and 156D in color, style is an average of 0.5 mm in             length and 157A in color, ovary is 157A in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—Has not been observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Hpopr013’ as herein illustrated and described. 